Mayock covers the draft and he’s also the NFL Network’s Analyst on “Thursday Night Football.” After studying all of the quarterbacks in last April’s draft, he says Manuel is equipped with some key attributes.

“I saw a lot of his college tape, and he knew he’s athletic with a live arm,” Mayock told host John Murphy. “I got to meet the kid and I liked him. I felt like he was a gym rat, which to me, is a prerequisite to being a good quarterback in the NFL. If you’re not a gym rat, I don’t want you.”

Mayock acknowledges that some draft experts poked holes in Manuel’s FSU resume before and after the draft.

“A lot of people knocked him because he didn’t have to make a lot of post snap reads at Florida State. But that was their offense. You can’t knock a kid if they’re not asking you to do something.”

“From my perspective,” Mayock said, “the talent’s there, the work ethic is there, the intelligence is there. Now it’s up to Nate Hackett and the staff to get it out of him.”

The entire interview with NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock is available here